The priest clears his throat and says, "This is the first time you're meeting me as a couple before this wedding commences, so I want to make sure everyone is of legal age." He looks at Mariano and the latter knits his brows at the priest as he mutters, "You saw the papers. Twenty-nine."
And then the priest turns to me, saying, "What about you, young lady?"
"Twenty-three," I answer, and the priest nods.
He opens his bible and addresses all of us. "Welcome, loved ones," the priest begins, even though there are no guests. How comical. "We are gathered here today to join Mariano and Gabriella in holy matrimony. This is—"
Mariano clears his throat loudly and glares and nods at the priest, who shoots him back with a scowl of his own, but then huffs out a breath and then looks down at his guide.
The priest's brows knit and he decides to skip several parts. "Do you Mariano Spencer Morelli, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, 'till death do you part?"
I stifle my laugh. This is just absolutely ridiculous. Me? Married to him with all these promises between us?
"I do," Mariano says, his voice curt and mechanical.
Then the priest turns to me. "And do you Gabriella Quinn De Luca, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, 'till death do you part?"
I still. My breath hitches as I stare at the priest's cross, thinking that we're here lying in front of God. I can't bring myself to speak, my tongue feels heavy in my mouth and I purse my lips. The lump in my throat thickens and it's getting harder and harder to swallow. I need water…and a jet to fly me back home.
Mariano looks down at me but doesn't say anything. He just stares, waiting patiently as I gather myself. I refuse to meet his eyes because he knows this is all a lie and he doesn't care. Why would he? He has me trapped. I have agreed to all of this, but now that we're here, my fight-or-flight response is taking hold of me.
The priest lowers his chin to peer at me, waiting for my answer, and when I remain quiet, he calls my attention, "Gab—"
"I do," I mutter quickly and just as mechanically as Mariano did, a rush of current flowing down my arms.
The priest straightens and continues. "Mariano and Gabriella, you may exchange your rings."
Right. Rings. I glance my eyes sideways as Mariano retrieves a velvet box from his pocket, opens it and takes out a ring, then extends the box to me. I take out his ring and we face each other. I barely notice the designs of each piece of jewelry because to me, they don't matter and I don't care. And I still don't look him in the eyes because I'm afraid to see someone else's face if I do.
Mariano takes my left hand and gently squeezes it. It's the first time he holds my hand since…well, since a few months ago. And I'm reminded of how warm it is that I'm hit with this bittersweet feeling inside me that I don't like. The altar was quiet for a few beats until the priest clears his throat, making me glance at him. He signals me to proceed and reluctantly, I do.
And when I meet Mariano's eyes, I swallow the massive lump in my throat. His gaze bores into me as if he's looking right into my soul as he speaks.
"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, take and wear this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness."
Electricity zaps my skin as his fingers slide the ring on my finger, making me flinch, but his grip on my hand is firm.
I do mine fast, sliding the ring on his finger as I repeat his words back to him.
Mariano doesn't let go of my hand. The priest opens his arms in a gesture as he says, "By the power vested in me by the state of Illinois, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss."
My chest heaves as Mariano tugs me towards him and leans in, his hand holding my waist possessively. I feel my skin burning even through the thin material of my dress that separates his hand from my waist. He's so close that my body warms up by the heat radiating from his body. I feel him everywhere.
I'm not ready when his eyes fall to my mouth and his lips curve into a rare smirk, looking like the devil that he is. It's because I don't see him like this often that it makes me feel like I'm gifted with it, at the same time that it feels ominous.
I'm not ready when he inches forward, leaving a hairbreadth between us that I can practically taste his scent on my tongue.
And when I think he's going to kiss me, he makes a detour towards the side of my face. A shiver runs down my spine as his hot breath fans my cheek, his lips skating against the sensitive skin below my ear as he whispers, "Pronta per tornare a casa... Amore Mio?" (Ready to go home... My beloved?)
Mariano steps back and releases me while I stay frozen in place. He signs the papers…and I'm now gaping at the empty space where he once stood. Then he walks away…down the aisle…and through the doors, leaving me at the altar like a helpless, flushing idiot.
Robotically, I sign the papers next to his name. Just like that, I'm now married to Mariano Morelli, and my surname has changed—as agreed—the weight of it all concentrated on the ring I wear on my finger.
I'm stunned as I watch him disappear through the door. It's lightly snowing outside. Chicago is cold and it's freezing my heart along with it.
There will be one more free chapter after this before it will be locked. I hope you continue supporting me through the next chapters that will be released soon. Xx
"We're five minutes away," I tell Duke, one of my men, over the phone before ending the call and sinking back into my seat and watching the lamp posts we pass by on our way home. It's already 30° outside and my body is buzzing.
My jaw clenches at the thought of what's happening at the Morelli house right about now. I can practically hear the chaos from here and we're still a few miles away. I wish I was there to see my father's reaction the second he realizes he's doomed.
But I first had to make sure it was safer for Riri to go inside the house. By the time we get there, my men would already be done with what they need to do. I trust them even if they're only a handful.
I slide my stare to the woman on my right when I sense a dark energy around her. She's looking out the window with a deep crease between her brows. Riri appears pissed off since we left the church. She slammed the car shut and her nose flared like she was about to breathe fire, the little dragon that she is.
If I didn't know any better, I would think that she's disappointed. Did she expect me to kiss her? I don't think she wanted that. I just saved myself from a black eye and a possible knee-to-balls injury. No thanks.
That and the fact that I was so close to actually kissing her. I had to walk out before doing something stupid.
My eyes drift lower, settling on the jewelry on her finger. I chose a classic solitaire diamond ring for her because I think it suits her. She has that air of elegance and sophistication that whatever dress she puts on would always look good on her.
Mine, on the other hand, is a plain white-gold band that somehow matches hers even though I didn't do it on purpose when I picked out the rings a few days ago.
Ree…is now my wife. God, I don't think I'll ever get used to it. She's been a vital part of my plans and now that it has commenced, everything will go both down and uphill from here.
Riri glances in my direction but she quickly darts her eyes back out the window, the crease deepening even further.
My wife is clearly mad at me.
For the past twenty-five minutes, she has been giving me deadly glares that would've already left me bloody if I wasn't so occupied with what awaits me at home. This woman is a spitfire. If I'm not careful, I might just get burned.
"You okay?" I ask just to be polite—okay fine, also a bit concerned. I need her on my side after all. I don't have time to coax her right now.
She rolls her eyes, folds her arms under her full breasts, and continues to ignore me. She's wearing my coat again and it reminds me that I need to make sure her winter clothes arrive tomorrow because Chicago winter is brutal.
I let my gaze wander around her bare face. There's a natural pink flush on her cheeks that she always had even back then. The skin down her decolletage is smooth and flawless, causing my eyes to trail lower, but I catch myself when she fidgets, so I look away.
Why do I have to feel guilty? Looking at my wife should be normal…but nothing about our marriage is normal.
Letting out a sigh, I tap Jax, who's sitting in the front seat, and nod to him. I don't need to verbally express myself to my best friend. He always understands me right away—most of the time anyway. Jax reaches into the glove compartment, retrieves a handgun, and hands it to me.
This catches Riri's attention and she's finally looking my way, her eyes widening in question but I ignore her. I retrieve another gun that I kept tucked in my waistband and then check both of the guns' clips. They're fully loaded.
"You know how to use a gun, right?" I ask, briefly glancing her way.
She blinks fast as if taken aback by the sudden question, her eyes bouncing between my hands, me, and Jax, who's also checking his own piece. "Y-Yeah?"
The car turns into an open gate and we cruise down the driveway, coming to a stop in front of the Morelli Mansion. It was built in the 19th century and is one of the biggest gilded mansions in Chicago that my grandfather—now the former Don—inherited from his wealthy immigrant German stepfather. It's surrounded by trees and high stone walls. I grew up here and I hate and love this place at the same time.
I peer through the window—the one on her side and she squeezed herself towards the door away from me. I pretend not to notice the thousands of questions floating on her face as I give her a gun. Then I stare directly into her eyes as I warn her:
"Don't shoot me. If you do, my men will kill you in the next second you won't even have time to breathe."
Her jaw falls as she subconsciously wraps her hand around the gun. I'm not threatening her…or sort of. I'm warning her that my loyal men would avenge me, so she better not do anything stupid.
I leave her at that and get out of the vehicle from my side, round the car from the back and open her door. She's still gaping at me until I narrow my eyes at her—that seems to snap her out of her trance that she alights the car right away, ignoring my waiting hand.
Ree takes in the mansion in front of her and I can see the gears in her head turn as if she's envisioning her future here with me. I don't know what she thinks of it at the moment and it's making me damn curious.
As she stands there gaping at my house, I wonder if she'll ever get over the massive wall between us. Are you ready, wife?
Comentario de párrafo
¡La función de comentarios de párrafo ya está en la Web! Mueva el mouse sobre cualquier párrafo y haga clic en el icono para agregar su comentario.
Además, siempre puedes desactivarlo en Ajustes.
ENTIENDO